Digital divide among people with disabilities: Analysis of data from a nationwide study for determinants of Internet use and activities performed online

Introduction
The Internet is both an opportunity as well as a challenge for people with disabilities. However, this segment of the population is usually indicated among social groups experiencing digital divide. The study is focused on the analysis of factors determining Internet usage and undertaking specific activities online among people with disabilities based on a nationwide study performed in 2013 in Poland.
Methods
Secondary analysis was performed on the data of persons who declared disability status in 2013 “Social Diagnosis” study. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed for the use of the Internet and performing three types of activities online.
Results
Among 3,556 respondents with disability 51.02% were females, 25.19% 65 years of age and over and 33.05% were Internet users. The predictors of Internet usage included the degree of disability, place of residence, level of education, marital status, occupational status, net income, use of health care service and the use of mobile phone. The odds ratio that a person with disability belonging to the oldest category will use the Internet was only 0.04 (95% CI 0.02–0.09), when compared to the youngest category. The odds that a person with disability from the highest category of education will use the Internet were 18 times higher than in the case of persons with only basic education (OR 18.17, 95% CI 11.70–28.21). Common predictors of online activities (accessing websites of public institutions, checking and sending emails, publishing own content on the Internet) included age category and net income.
Conclusions
People with disabilities in Poland are facing a significant digital divide. The factors determining the use of the Internet in this group are similar to those of the general population. On the other hand, people with disabilities who are active online, access diversified types of services including presentation of their own content online.

引言
互联网对于残障群体而言既是机遇亦是挑战，但该群体通常被列为存在数字鸿沟（digital divide）的社会群体之一。本研究基于2013年在波兰开展的全国性调查，旨在分析影响残障群体互联网使用行为及在线特定活动开展情况的相关因素。

研究方法
本研究对2013年“社会诊断”（Social Diagnosis）调查中申报残障身份的受访者数据进行了二次分析，并针对互联网使用情况及三类在线活动构建了多变量逻辑回归模型。

研究结果
本次调查共纳入3556名残障受访者，其中女性占比51.02%，65岁及以上群体占比25.19%，互联网使用者占比33.05%。影响残障群体互联网使用的预测因素包括残障等级、居住地、受教育水平、婚姻状况、职业状况、净收入、医疗服务使用情况及手机使用情况。与最年轻年龄段的残障群体相比，最年长年龄段群体使用互联网的优势比（odds ratio，OR）仅为0.04（95%置信区间（CI）：0.02~0.09）；受教育程度最高的残障群体使用互联网的概率是仅接受基础教育群体的18倍（OR=18.17，95%置信区间（CI）：11.70~28.21）。在线活动（涵盖访问公共机构网站、查看与发送电子邮件、在互联网发布个人内容）的共同预测因素包括年龄段及净收入。

研究结论
波兰残障群体面临着显著的数字鸿沟，影响该群体互联网使用的相关因素与普通人群基本一致。另一方面，活跃于网络的残障群体能够获取多样化的在线服务，其中包括在互联网发布个人内容。